Anger often comes from a place of disappointment—we’re not getting what we want or need. But the real danger is when we shift from desire to demand. When we demand our desires be satisfied, we’ll make everyone around us pay until we get what we want. We want to be punctual or perceived as successful. When anything hinders those desires, it’s easy to make demands on the people around us.
We all express our anger differently, but all expressions of anger come from the heart. As we saw yesterday, anger is a trait God desires for us to “put off.” Like a dirty set of clothes on a clean body, anger is not fitting for our new identity in Jesus.
God is recreating us to reflect this new identity. Sometimes this process is challenging and humbling as it means letting go of the areas we’ve been clinging to. We get angry when we feel like our rights are violated. We can release those rights and trust God’s going to take care of whatever injustice we’re experiencing.
God didn’t create you to be a person filled with tension and rage. It’s not who you are anymore.
To aid you this week, commit to memory Colossians 3.3, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” May this verse remind you that your life is in Jesus and the anger you once held onto doesn’t hold you any longer.
